New England
Meteoritical Services
Sikhote-Alin Coarsest
Octahedrite
On February 12, 1947 a blazing
fireball estimated to mass 70 to 100 tons exploded 3.6 miles above the
Sikhote-Alin Mountains north of Vladivostok, Russia. When the main detonation
occurred, Sikhote-Alin had already shed most, if not all, of its cosmic
velocity.
As a result of this late
detonation, many of the resulting fragments were not traveling fast enough for
atmospheric friction to cause additional ablation and Sikhote-Alin specimens
can be found in two distinct forms: the traditional iron meteorite with smooth
surfaces and regmaglypts, and a shrapnel
form that demonstrates the explosive tearing and shearing forces encountered as
the iron bolide shattered at low altitude.
Sikhote-Alin specimens are
currently available in many forms and exotic shapes that illustrate the classic
characteristics of this unusual and important
meteorite.
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